Sink mounting device



April 4, 1961 MUSALL r 7 2,977,605

SINK MOUNTING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORfi.

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Ap 4, 1961 J. MUSALL ETAL 2,977,605

SINK MOUNTING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent SINK MOUNTHJ G DEVICE John Musall, Miami, Fla., and Milo L. Mork, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pyramid Mouldings, Inc., Chicago, [1]., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,547

Claims. (Cl. 4-187) This invention relates to. a sink mounting device and more particularly to a device for mounting a peripherally flanged sink in the aperture of a drainboard.

In mounting a sink within an apertured drainboard it has been the practice to utilize a molding strip or frame of generally T-shaped cross section and a plurality of associated fastening elements which attach to the frame and are adapted to engage'the flange of the sink and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard. In general these devices have been elaborate and expensive. Many have employed threaded fasteners and structures which are relatively complex and ditficult to fabricate. Most have required a number of parts of special design. Not only may the loss of any of these parts occasion delay and added expense, but in addition such devices are not adapted to be assembled quickly, and the separate parts may tend to loosen under the influence of vibration.

It is one particular object of this invention to provide an inexpensive yet simple and effective device for mounting a sink within the aperture of a drainboard.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sink mounting which will permit the sink counter top .to be easily and quickly assembled with minimum skill.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an inexpensive device for holding a sink tightly in position within an apertured drainboard so that under the vibrational influences normally encountered the sink will not loosen.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sink mounting device which is of simple construction and has a minimum number of parts.

Other objects may be seen and a fuller understanding of the invention had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Themounting device of this invention is adapted to mount a peripherally flanged sink within an apertured drainboard. This device according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a molding strip. and at least one supporting element. The molding strip is formed into the configuration of the sink flange and includes an elongate base and an integral, elongate, transversely disposed, web-like shank. The base is adapted to overlie the sink flange and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard, and the shank is adapted to circumscribe the sink and to lie intermediate the sink flange and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard. A plurality of transversely extending, longitudinally spaced slots are cut in the free edge of the shank to define a plurality of independently deformable free-edge segments.

The supporting element which is adapted to cooperate with the molding strip includes an elongate head portion, and an integral, transversely disposed, web-like leg portion. The head portion is adapted to underlie and engage the underside of the sink flange and the leg portion is adapted to lie in parallel juxtaposed relation with respect to the shank of the molding strip. Positioning means is provided at the juncture of the head and leg portions for maintaining the leg portion in its juxtaposed ice relationship with respect to the shank of the molding strip. A number of the free-edge segments on the molding strip are adapted to be deformably folded in one direction over the leg portion of the supporting element thereby locking the supporting element in position. The remaining free-edge segments may then be deformed in the opposite direction into engagement with the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard thereby locking the sink and mounting device in position in the drainboard.

With reference to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of an apertured drainboard with a sink mounted therein by means of a device constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sink mounting device in inverted position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional perspective View of the device showing the method of mounting the sink within the aperture of the drainboard;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mounting device with the sink in place within the drainboard;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation view of the mounting device showing the sink in position within the drainboard;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the supporting element; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the molding strip.

With further reference to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, a sink counter 10 is shown which comprises apertured drainboard 12, a sink 14 mounted within the aperture of drainboard 12, and a mounting device 16 which holds the sink in proper position Within the aperture of drainboard 12. Drainboard 12 may consist of a multi-ply Wooden board having a protective top surface covering 12a of a material such as formica, linoleum, or stainless steel. Sink 14 may be constructed of heavy gauge steelhaving a coating of vitreous enamel. This sink is substantially rectangular and has a peripheral flange 14a which extends outwardly from the bowl of the sink and is of slightly larger dimensions than the aperture in drainboard 12. Thus the flanged sink 14 is adapted to fit within the aperture of drainboard. 12.

Mounting device 16, which is adapted to hold sink 14 firmly in place within the aperture of drainboard 12, consists of two elements: a molding strip 20 and at least one supporting element 30. Molding strip 20 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7 has a substantially T-shaped cross section and includes an elongate planar base or top 22 and an integral elongate, web-like shank 24. Shank 24 is longitudinally coextensive with base 22 and extends transversely with respect thereto from approximately the central axis thereof. Free edge 25 of the shank is spaced from the base 22 a distance which is substantially greater than the thickness of drainboard 12. The molding strip is formed so that the shank 24 will circumscribe sink flange 14a which in the illustrated embodiment is rectangular, and the ends of the strip are welded together. The outermost portion 22a of the base 22 is adapted to overlie the aperture-defining portions of drainboard 12 and the inwardly extending portion 22b of the base is adapted to overlie sink flange 14a as may be best seen in Figs; 4 and 5. Accordingly shank 24 is disposed intermediate the sink flange 14a and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard.

A plurality of parallel slots 26-26a are cut in shank 24. Slots 26 extend toward base 22 from free edge 25 and thus define a plurality of free edge segments 27 which are independently deformable in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of shank 24 i.e., inwardly and outwardly with respect to the rectangular configuration of the molding strip. Slots 26a also extend toward base 22. However, these slots are spaced from and do not extend to the free edge of shank 24. Slots 26a permit segments 27 to be deformed more easily and also facilitate the tightening of the device on the sink flange 14a and the drainboard 12 as will be hereinafter described.

Cooperating with molding strip is at least one supporting element 30. In the illustrated embodiment four such elements are provided, one for each side of the rectangle into which the molding strip is formed. See Fig. 2. It is possible to construct the supporting element in one piece substantially longitudinally coextensive with the molding strip, and thus it too would surround the sink 14. However, it is preferred particularly in those instances where the sink is rectangular that four such elements be provided, each extending along and independently and effectively supporting a side of the sink.

Each supporting element 30 is of substantially L-shaped cross section and includes an elongate planar top or head portion 32 and an integral elongate, web-like leg portion 34. Leg portion 34 is longitudinally coextensive with head portion 32 and extends transversely therefrom so that its free edge 35 lies in parallel spaced relationship with respect thereto. Adjacent the juncture of head portion 32 and leg portion 34 is a protuberant channel-like positioning ridge 36 which extends upwardly above the plane of head portion 32. As may be seen in Figs. 2 through 5, each supporting element 30 is adapted to be positioned with respect to molding strip 20 so that its leg portion 34 is in parallel juxtaposed position with respect to shank 24. Head portion 32 thus extends transversely inward and lies in substantially parallel spaced relationship with respect to inwardly extending base portion 22b of the molding strip. Head portion 32 is adapted to engage the underside of sink flange 14a, and the sink flange is thus held in position between this portion of supporting element 30 and portion 22b of the molding strip base 22. With leg portion 34 thus disposed in juxtaposed position with respect to shank 24 and with the head portion 32 pressing against the underside of sink flange 14a, protuberant positioning ridge 36 will extend toward said base portion 22b and will lie intermediate shank 24 and the peripheral edge of sink flange 14a. The disposition of protuberant ridge 36 between the sink flange and the shank of the molding strip prevents movement of the head portion 32 horizontally inward away from the shank. As will be seen, means is also provided to maintain ridge 36 in position between the sink flange and the sink and to prevent movement of the head portion in a downward direction parallel to the plane of the shank, and away from base 22. Thus supporting element 3% is locked in position and is prevented from moving away from shank 24 of the molding strip.

For this purpose shank 24 of the molding strip is substantially wider than and is preferably twice as wide as leg portion 34 of the supporting element. Slots 26 will then extend from free edge across at least one-half the width of shank 24. Thus when a supporting element has been positioned with respect to the sink flange and the molding strip as previously described, free-edge segments 27 will extend substantially beyond the free edge of the supporting element. A number of these free-edge segments may then be bent over the free edge 35 of the supporting element leg portion and formed flatly against this leg portion on the opposite side thereof as illustrated in Fig. 4. The supporting element 30 thus in effect will rest in a U-shaped channel formed by the bending of these free-edge segments 27 thereabout. With the supporting element thus prevented from moving downwardly by the deformed free-edge segments 27 and prevented from moving transversely by positioning ridge 36, this element is locked in place.

A number of the remaining free-edge segments 27 may be bent in the opposite direction under the aperturedefining portions of drainboard 12 and may be held in place by nails. 7

The sink 12 is normally mounted in the drainboard with both the sink and the drainboard in the inverted position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The molding strip 20 thus is inserted within the aperture in drainboard 12, and in the inverted position, outwardly extending portion 22a of the base underlies the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard and shank portion 24 extends upwardly through the aperture in the drainboard. Sink 14 is inverted and placed in position so that the flange 14a lies within the aperture of drainboard l2 and rests upon inwardly extending portion 22b of the base. Each of the supporting elements 30 is then placed in position with head portion 32 resting upon sink flange 14a and with protuberant positioning ridge 36 disposed intermediate sink flange and shank 24 of the molding strip. Leg portion 34 is thus disposed in juxtaposed position with respect to shank 24. A number of the deformable freeedge segments 27 of the shank are then deformed over the free edge 35 of the supporting element leg portion to lock the supporting element in position. A number of the remaining undeformed free-edge segments are then deformed in the opposite direction over the aperturedefining portions of drainboard 12 and may be nailed in their deformed position.

Although the mounting device may be utilized without additional tools or equipment, it is preferred that a leverlike tightening tool 40 be provided. This tool may be constructed of sheet metal and includes an elongate handle portion 42 and a first lever arm 44 disposed at one end of and extending transversely outward in the plane of handle 42. At the juncture 46 of lever arm 44 and handle 42, the tool is rounded. Struck from lever arm 44 adjacent the free end thereof and extending transversely outward from the plane of the handle and lever portions is an ear-like detent 48. This detent is adapted to be inserted within slot 26a of any of the free-edge segments, and rounded portion 46 is adapted to be disposed within channel-like positioning ridge 36 as illustrated in Fig. 3. Force is then applied on handle 42 of the tool in the direction indicated by the arrow (downward) causing the tool to pivot about detent 43 which abuts against the end of slot 26b adjacent free edge 25. Supporting element 30 thus is forced tightly against sink flange 14a which in turn is caused to bear tightly against the inwardly extending portion 22b of the base. With the sink flange thus held tightly between the molding strip and the supporting element, the free-edge segments 27 are deformed over leg portion 34 of the supporting element thus locking the supporting element and sink in position with respect to the molding strip.

In order to facilitate the tightening of the molding strip in the drainboard, a second lever arm 50 may be provided on the end of tool 40 opposite arm 44. Arm 50 is slender so that it may be inserted within any of the slots 26a in remaining undeformed free-edge segments 27. The juncture 52 between arm 50 and handle 42 is rounded and adapted to rest on the undersurface of the drainboard 12. With arm 50 inserted within a slot 26a and rounded juncture 50 resting on the under surface of the drainboard, downward pressure on the handle 42 adjacent arm 44- will cause the outwardly extending base portion 22a of the molding strip to be drawn tightly into contact with the aperture-defining portions of drainboard 12. A number of the remaining free-edge segments 27 are then deformed over the aperture-defining portions or". drainboard 12 to lock the molding strip 20 in position with respect to the drainboard.

It may be seen that a mounting device constructed according to this invention is of simple construction and employs a minimum number of parts. With this device a sink may be quickly, easily and effectively mounted within anapertured drainboard.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that many modifications andchanges in various details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as hereinafter claimed,

What is claimed is:

1. A device for mounting a sink with an outwardly extending peripheral flange in an apertured drainboard, said device comprising a molding strip and a supporting element, said molding strip including an elongate base adapted to overlie the sink flange and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard, and a transversely disposed shank connected to said base and adapted to be disposed intermediate the sink flange and the aperturedefining portions of the drainboard, said supporting element having a first portion adapted to engage the underside of the sink flange, a second portion joined to said first portion and adapted to extend toward the free edge of said shank, and means adjacent the juncture of said first .and second portions for positioning said first portion with respect to the sink flange and said molding strip, said shank having portions thereof deformably foldable over said supporting element second portion to lock said supporting element in position.

2. A device for mounting a sink with an outwardly extending peripheral flange in an apertured drainboard, said device comprising a molding strip and a supporting element, said molding strip including an elongate base adapted to overlie the sink flange and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard, and a transversely disposed shank connected to said base and adapted to be disposed intermediate the sink flange and the aperturedefining portions of the drainboard, said supporting element including an elongate head portion adapted to engage the underside of the sink flange, and a transverse leg portion connected to said head portion and disposed in parallel juxtaposed relation with respect to the shank of said molding strip when said head portion is in position to engage the underside of the sink flange, and

means adjacent the juncture of said head portion and said leg portion for positioning said head portion with respect to the sink flange and said shank, portions of said shank being formable about said leg portion whereby said supporting element may be locked in position.

3. A device for mounting a sink with an outwardly extending peripheral flange in an apertured drainboard, said device comprising a molding strip and a supporting element, said molding strip including an elongate base adapted to overlie the sink flange and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard, and a transversely disposed shank connected to said base and adapted to be disposed intermediate the sink flange and the aperturedefining portions of the drainboard, said shank having a free edge and a plurality of independently deformable free-edge segments defined thereat, said flanged supporting element including an elongated head portion adapted to engage the underside of the sink flange, a transversely disposed leg portion connected to said head portion and means adjacent the juncture of said head portion and said leg portion and adapted for positioning said head portion in position with respect to said sink flange and said shank, certain of said deformable free-edge segments being adapted to be folded about said leg portion whereby said supporting element may be locked in position, certain others of said deformable free-edge segments being adapted to be deformably folded in the opposite direction into engagement with the underside of the drainboard.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said supporting element leg portion has a free edge spaced from said head portion a distance substantially less than the spacing of the free edge of said shank from said base, whereby said deformable free-edge segments of said shank may be folded over the free edge of said leg portion to lock said leg portion and said supporting element in position.

5. A device for mounting a sink with an outwardly extending peripheral flange in an apertured drainboard, said device comprising a molding strip and a supporting element, said molding strip including an elongate base adapted to overlie the sink flange and the aperture-defining portions of the drainboard, and a transversely disposed shank connected to said base and adapted to be disposed intermediate the sink flange and the aperturedefining portions of the drainboard, said shank having a free edge spaced from said base and a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots extending toward said base from said free edge to define a plurality of independently deformable free-edge segments, said supporting element including an elongate head portion engageable with the underside of the sink flange and transverse leg portions connected to said head portion and disposed in parallel juxtaposed relation with respect to the shank of said molding strip when said head portion is in position to engage the underside of the sink flange, a protuberant formation disposed adjacent the juncture of said head and leg portions, portions of said formation being positionable intermediate the sink flange and said shank to maintain the leg portion of said supporting element in juxtaposed parallel relationship with respect to said shank, certain of said deformable free-edge segments being folded about said leg portion to lock said supporting element in position with portions of said protuherant formation positioned intermediate the sink flange and said shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,458,230 Kane June 12, 1923 1,693,750 Groehn Dec. 4, 1928 2,502,553 Ball Apr. 4, 1950 2,606,788 Dieterich Aug. 12, 1952 2,890,462 Ross June 16, 1959 2,921,321 Camp Jan. 19, 1960 

